THE Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, MEND, yesterday, said former President Jonathan may have indeed compromised his high office with regard to the allegations of corruption, malpractices, and breach of due process in the award of oil prospecting licence, OPL 245, also known as Malabu Oil scandal.

Former President Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan at the State House in Abuja

MEND, in an online statement by its Spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo, alleged that ex-President Jonathan received $200 million as kickback from the oil deal, while urging the federal lawmakers to compel Jonathan’s appearance

“We are compelled by natural justice, equity and good conscience to lend our voice against the most ignoble and despicable role played by the former President in the messy affair which has tainted the image of Nigeria both locally and internationally.

“Like millions of Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora, who have keenly followed the OPL 245 saga, we have reasonable grounds to suspect that former President Jonathan may have indeed compromised his high office with regard to the matter, more especially, given the fact that key officials of his administration, including the then Attorney General of the Federation, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, have been indicted and charged before the Federal High Court in Abuja.

We are, therefore, in full support of moves by the House of Representatives to summon the former President to appear before the House to give answers to the myriad of questions concerning his role in OPL 245. Where he refuses to honour the invitation, we urge the House to invoke its inherent powers to compel his appearance.”

MEND also advised Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC, to drop its alleged plan to relocate from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, to Lagos, saying that such movement could stir up the restiveness in the Niger Delta.

MEND urged the oil firm to shelve the idea, warning that it would not hesitate to reconsider its unilateral ceasefire of May 30, 2014 should SPDC decide to relocate to Lagos from Port Harcourt.

“To be sure, the Niger Delta region is no longer hostile to the business interests of the IOCs, including SPDC, as peace has since returned to the area; following the enervating efforts of the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta, the Pan-Niger Delta Forum, the various state governments, as well as the Federal Government.

“There is, therefore, no reason whatsoever for SPDC to relocate back to Lagos. We use this opportunity to warn that we shall reconsider the unilateral ceasefire of May 30, 2014 if SPDC relocates back to Lagos,” the militant group stressed.

It also called on the military high command to initiate a thorough investigation into the remote and immediate circumstances surrounding the death of the late Rear Admiral Ikoli, one of the shining lights of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Nigerian Navy.

The militant group, said: “We use this opportunity to warn that we shall reconsider our unilateral ceasefire of May 30, 2014, if SPDC relocates to Lagos.” The statement said: “We are alarmed over media reports of the planned or rumoured relocation of SPDC back to Lagos from Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

If it is true, we urge SPDC to shelve the idea as the move has the likely consequence of reawakening restiveness in the Niger Delta region. “Quite apart from the massive loss of job opportunities, taxes and other incentives the planned move would cause in the medium to short term, it is clear to all stakeholders, including the Federal Government, that such a move is ill-advised, especially against the backdrop of the recent directive from the Federal Government to the International Oil Companies, IOCs, to relocate to their areas of operation in the Niger Delta.

“To be sure, the Niger Delta region is no longer hostile to the business interests of the IOCs, including SPDC, as peace has since returned to the area, following the efforts of MEND, the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, the various state governments, as well as the Federal Government.

There is, therefore, no reason for SPDC to relocate back to Lagos.” On the death of Rear Admiral Ikoli, it said: “Finally, and on a sad note, Rear Admiral Daniel Ikoli’s death in Lagos on April 5, 2017 is suspicious and unfortunate.

Death is an inevitable end for all mortals but our suspicion is fed by conflicting reports surrounding the circumstances of his death. “We are, therefore, calling on the Nigerian military high command to initiate a thorough investigation into the remote and immediate circumstances surrounding the death of the late Rear Admiral who was one of the shining lights of the Ijaw ethnic nationality in the Nigerian Navy.”